The Science of Positive Psychology & Well-Being

Slowing Down To “see” The Good!

What good qualities do you see in your neighbor? A stranger? Your child? When you run into someone at the coffee shop (whether you know them or not): try to open your mind and look for positive traits in the people around you – they are right in front of you!

Practice:

Slow down – Step away from the frenetic pace, the quick judgments and short interactions. Spend a few moments being curious about the good qualities in your kids. Is your son naturally helpful or patient?. Is your daughter naturally optimistic and uplifting? Or maybe she’s got a lot of energy.

Write down three positive qualities that you frequently see in your kids – research has demonstrated that this simple act (after two short weeks) trains your brain to notice these qualities faster than others.

Nourishing Happiness

Happiness is now a science. We now know the conditions and practices that are present in the lives of people who report being exceptionally happy. Highly happy people value their happiness: they know what does and does not make them happy and intentionally do the things that make them happy. What does and does not make you happy? What do you need to prioritize in your life?

Practice:

Find and increase the frequency of activities that result in the following for you:

Positive Emotions – feeling good about what you are doing

Engagement – intense focus and interest

Supportive Relationships – relationships that help you feel good about yourself

Meaning – things that matter to you; typically these reflect values you feel strongly about

Accomplishments – set goals (even small ones) and achieve them

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